Dental Tourism: NOT a vacation!

I've been seeing an increasing number of dental ads lately relating to "Dental Tourism". If you haven't heard the term before, allow me to explain. Dental Tourism occurs when a person elects to travel outside of the United States to have their dental work done. Popular destinations include Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and India.

So why have I noticed these ads, and why am I bothering to blog about it?

Several reasons really, but mostly because it's not the vacation that it's made out to be. The ads I've seen make it seem as if you're sipping a pina colada and getting a massage while having a mouth full of dental implants done. Now, I've obviously never engaged in dental tourism, but I'm positive that's not how it's done.

It's not worth leaving the country to get a few fillings. The cost of travel alone will be greater than your dental bill. It's is reasonable to assume then that most patients are engaging in dental tourism for more complicated procedures such as dental implants and full mouth crowning.

What's important to understand is that these are actual surgeries. They are not one appointment treatments, like fillings. Dental implants are a complex procedure, and require a copious amount of after care. Recently, a former patient of mine returned to the practice. She had been to South America and had all of her upper teeth extracted and an implant denture made. She had saved approximately $20,000 by having the work done in South America.

Dental implants are a tricky thing... that's why the best person to place and maintain them is an oral surgeon. Long story short, the patient returned home and had not lined up after care. There were complications, and of course she wasn't able to travel back and forth to South America several times a week. All in all, after having to purchase after care to correct several of the problems, she spent more than she would have if she had had the work done locally.

If you are considering doing extensive dental work, it is best to select a local dentist that you trust. You can then guarantee that aftercare will be included with your work, and that they will be able to address not only any medical issues that arise, but assist with the emotional aspect of your recovery. Plus, it's always great to buy American.

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please visit www.allaboutsmiles.org .

Vampire Teeth? Cosmetic Dentistry Makes it Possible for True Twi-Hards to Obtain Fangs

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard of the Vampire craze that's out there. If you're not a fan, sit tight, there's only one more movie left. If you are a fan, sorry, there's only one more movie left. If you're a DIEHARD Twi-hard... let's talk about Vampire teeth.

A patient recently asked if we'd ever made Vampire teeth for anyone. Umm, wow, really?

This patient was not interested in having a set of fangs made, but given the amount of conversations about vampires that the poor guy was forced to endure at dinner every night (yup, he's the proud Papa of some teenage girls), he was interested in knowing just how far people would go.

After the inital giggling wore off, we started discussing exactly how we would make vampire fangs if indeed someone was interested. It would simply be another miracle of cosmetic dentistry. All that's necessary to achieve vampire fangs are custom constructed crowns. Cosmetic crowning is a rather routine procedure, and does not require many appointments.

Creating fangs for fans is just a simple modification of the permanent crown, and a matter of reducing the opposing lower teeth to accomodate the new length on top. Though the results are intended to be permanent... should one's tastes change, the crowns can always be replaced with standard sized crowns.

For more information, call our office at 727.733.1175 or visit us on the web at www.allaboutsmiles.org.

Super Foods for Healthy Teeth AND Healthy Skin!

You are what you eat. Luckily, I can safely say I'm not a Big Mac and Fries. Did you know that there are certain foods that can not only improve your health, but your appearance as well? It's true, the food we eat can make a big difference in the health and vibrance of your skin. Here's a list of our top favorites and their benefits:

-Romaine Lettuce: It's high in Vitamin A (OTC Retinol), which promotes cell turnover and collagen stimulation. In short, it's a natural exfoliant. It's also high in Vitamin K, which promotes vascular health. How's it good for your teeth? In homeopathic dentistry, romaine lettuce is thought to help reduce sensitivity and stregnthen enamel.

-Tomatoes: High in Lycopene, tomatoes help to reduce the risk of sunburn. Lycopene is also thought to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. As a snack, cherry tomatoes are a healthy alternative to sugary treats that promote tooth decay.

- Strawberries: These favorites are high in Vitamin C, which is a potent antioxidant. Vitamin C helps to produce collagen and maintain skin's firmness. Ellagic acid is also abundant in strawberries, this antioxidant protects the skin's elastic fibers and keeps skin from sagging. Strawberries can also be mixed with baking powder to help remove stains on teeth. Strawberries contain malic acid, which helps to remove surface stains.

-Apples: Apples contain the antioxidant Quercetin, which helps to minimize sunburn. It also minimalizes the damages caused by UVB rays, which can lead to skin cancer. Apples can also mimic the actions of a toothbrush, and work to help scrub the teeth clean. While apples may remove surface stain and tartar, it is still important to brush your teeth after eating them as they do contain sugar which will cling to the surface.

-Eggs: Eggs are high luthein and zeaxanthin protect against UV damage that causes fine lines, age spots and skin cancer. Eggs are a good stand in foe teeth in experiments and science projects. Curious as to if a food or drink might stain your teeth? Try it out on an eggshell first!

-Almonds: Almonds contain Vitamin E, one of the most beneficial antioxidants for skin health. Almonds also help boost the skin's moisture level. Almonds are also abundant in phosphorous, which helps to keep your bones and teeth strong.

-Olive Oil: Olive Oil is high in essential fatty acids that help to retain the skin's moisture. The body cannot synthesize EFA's, so a tablespoon of olive oil every day is beneficial. How is olive oil good for your teeth? Rinsing with an olive oil and water mixture can help to treat gingivitis.

Check back soon for more skin care secrets!

Bringing Smiles to Pinellas County School Children

Summer time is here but before you know it, it will be time for the kids to go back to school (Can I get a hallelujah?) Here in our office, we're doing our part to spread dental health and smiles to school children throughout Pinellas County, without breaking Mom and Dad's bank.

On August 13th, 2010 our office will be hosting "Smile for School", a program initiated in Pinellas County by Dr. Sandra Lilo of Seminole (http://drsandrajlilodds.com/). This program is a community service program designed to benefit school age children by providing free dental xrays, teeth cleanings and a dental check up exam. All dental professionals and supporting staff are donating their time on a volunteer basis.

To qualify, children must simply be Pinellas County residents and currently enrolled in a school located in Pinellas County (private school ok!). If you would like to schedule an appointment for your child please contact our office at 727.733.1175. Space is limited and appointments will be filled on a first come, first serve basis.

Breakthrough Gel May Heal Cavities

Discovery.com... how cool and cutting edge are they? Recently they've run a piece about a new gel that encourages teeth to regenerate after cavities have already formed. Shazam!

This innovative technology is essentially different from all other methods of dentistry currently available. Most dentistry has two main goals: to prevent decay from beginning, and if prevention fails, to restore the tooth by removing the decay and infection and sealing the tooth.

This new gel is something entirely different. Rather than removing decayed areas of the tooth and replacing it with composite filling material, this gel is placed next to a cavity. It is made of MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone), when it is applied, the cells inside the teeth regenerate in rougly a month, according to their study.

The gel is NOT a preventative measure, it will not stop tooth decay, but it will reverse it. It does not take the place of brushing and flossing. Just like the old sports adage "the best defense is a good offense", your best chances for a healthy mouth are daily brushing and flossing.

However, it will still be several years before this treatment is available.... but isn't the possibility of it cool?

Have You Heard About Juvederm XC?

Facial Fillers are wonderful! They can do all sorts of magical things, like remove age lines and help promote a more youthful appearance, correct scars and plump up lips. In our office, Juvederm is the chosen filler of choice.

Now we're super excited! Juvederm XC is now available. What makes this product so super fantastic is that it is the Juvederm we all love, plus lidocaine. Lidocaine is an anaesthetic that can be injected or applied topically. In the past, in order to more comfortably receive treatment many patients opted for a topical anaesthetic or a dental block. Now those extra steps are not necessary (but they are still available!), as the anaesthetic mixed into the product makes for a more comfortable, relaxed patient experience. This is especially true for people who are fearful of discomfort.

Juvederm XC can reduce the typical appointment time as you don't have to wait for anaesthetic to kick in - a bonus for busy patients! Juvederm XC is especially suited to patients who are interested in enhancing their lips and tear troughs. For more information, please call our office at 727.733.1175.

Celebrity Fears and Phobias... You're Not Alone!

Nicole Kidman is afraid of butterflies. Johnny Depp fears clowns. Madonna's afraid of thunder. Sarah Michelle Gellar is afraid of graveyards. Cameron Diaz is afraid to touch doorknobs. Whoopi Goldberg is afraid to fly.

Kelly Osbourne and Robert DeNiro are afraid of the dentist. Kelly Osbourne even tweeted: "i have to go get my filling today and the fear is really really kicking in. i need to get over this fear of the dentist but i cant! (sic)"

Out of adults in the United States, studies show that 1 in 4 suffer from fear of the dentist. That's not surprising, considering the way dentistry was performed 30 years ago. However, dental technique and technology has evolved significantly. Discomfort, once the norm for dental treatment, is kept to an absolute minimum now.

In response to the growing amount of individuals facing dental fear, our office is proud to offer non-intravenous sedation. Fear can be a thing of the past as you snooze during your appointment, and you can accomplish much more treatment at one time.

Call our office today, 727.733.1175 and let us set you up with a free sedation consultation. We'll help you get over your dental fears... sorry, we can't do anything about the clowns.